Seating structure



Dee. 12, 1939. F. ALBACH ETAL SEATING STRUCTURE FiledFeb. 5, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 G a F i it a. 5 9 20 Z w z z w MM ll y a w y fl h &/| w

FIGS.

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INVENTORS FRANK ALBACH GEORGE R. CJHERVENKA ATTORNEY F. ALBACH ET AL 2,33fl57 SEATING STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 5. 1938 4 SheetsPSheet 5 FlGii.

ENVENTORS FRANK ALBACH GEORGE RCHERVENKA TTORNEY Em, E2, 1939 F. ALBACH ET AL SEATING STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 3, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS FRANK QALBACN GEORGE R. CHERVENKA ATTnDMrv Patented Dec. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT 1 OFFICE SEATING STRUCTURE souri Application February 3, 1938, Serial No. 188,444

16 Claims.

This invention relates generally to seatingstructures and, more particularly, to a certain new and useful improvement in foldable seatingstructures of the type commonly known as indoor bleachers for use in auditoriums, gymnasiums,

and other enclosures.

Heretofore, so far as we are aware, foldable seating-structures of the type generally stated have been so constructed for permanent connection with one particular wall of the specific enclosure, and in a copending application, Serial No. 146,163, filed June 3, 1937, we disclose a telescopically foldable seating-structure or so-called bleachers especially adapted for permanent location and connection relatively to one wall of the gymnasium or other enclosure, the structure, when folded, being compactly disposed against, and when unfolded projecting forwardly from, such selected wall. It is frequently desirable, however, we have found, that the seating-structure be capable of shiftable disposition as a whole with respect to the gymnasium or other enclosure for projection, when opened, from or with respect to any selected wall of the enclosure and for location, when folded, in a hall-way, ante-chamber, or the like, for instance, thereby permitting utilization of the entire gymnasium area for other useful purposes.

Our present invention hence has for its primary objects the provision of a seating-structure of the type and for the purposes stated which is so constructed as to be readily shifted or moved from place to place when in closed or foldeld condition,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the truck forming part of the seating-structure of our 50 present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged broken fragmental plan view of the truck;

Figure 3 is a transverse fragmentary sectional view of the structure, taken approximately along 55 the line 3-3, Figure 2, showing one of the rollerhousings of the truck and the roller being shown in released condition as when the structure is disposed for use in or at a selected location;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the truck, taken approximately on the line 44, Fig- 5 ure 2, similarly showing the roller of the particular housing in released condition for opening the seating-structure at a selected location;

Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Figures 3 and 4, respectively, showing the truck-roller, 10 however, in lowered condition for movement of the seating-structure as a whole to or from any previously selected location;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a movable or shiftable foldable seating-structure construct- 15 ed in accordance with and embodying our present invention, the structure being shown in opened or unfolded condition at a selected location;

Figure 8 is an end elevational view of the seating-structure in closed or folded condition, the 20 truck being shown in section with its rollers lowered for movement of the structure as a whole to or from any previously selected location;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of the structure, taken approximately on the line 9-9, 25 Fi ure I,

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view of the structure, taken approximately on the line |0l0, Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view on approxi- 30 matelyline' l'l, Figure 10, showing one of the locking members of the present structure in projected locking position; and

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11, showing the locking member, however, in retracted or withdrawn unlocking position.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of our present invention, the telescopically foldable seating-structure or 40 bleachers proper is fully and in detail shown and described in our said copending application. A detail description of the seating-structure proper is hence here, for brevity, omitted. Sufiice it now to say that such seating-structure proper includes a plurality of seat-carrying frames U, V, W, X, Y, and Z, each of the intermediate frames V, W, X, and Y being resiliently mounted for vertical shiftable movement upon a suitable roller support D,

' the forward seat-carrying frame U being likewise resiliently mounted for vertical shiftable I movement upon a suitable roller-support D, and

the several frames U, V, W, X, and Y being so connected one with the other and with the rear Qr main frame Z by means of slidably connected uprights and longitudinally disposed beams or members 2 for compactly nesting one within the other and within or with respect to the rear or main frame Z when in folded or closed condition, as shown in Figure 8, and for expanded spaced stepped opened or unfolded relation one in advance of the other, as shown in Figure 7, all as fully and in detail set forth and described in our said copending application Serial No. 146,163, to which reference is accordingly made. As in said application mentioned, the forward frame U has a swingable normally depending face-plate 3, and the rear frame Z is also vertically yieldable with respect to a base-bracket 4. V

In the present construction, to conveniently enable shiftable or portable disposition of the seating-structure as a whole or as a unit, as it may be said, into or from the particular enclosure or for movement within the particular enclosure for location with respect to any selected wall thereof, the seating-structure includes a truck A, which, in turn, comprises a pair of companion floor or base-plates 5 of suitable width and length, each preferably formed along its opposite inner and outer longitudinal margins with suitable upstanding roller-guide-flanges 6, '1, re spectively.

Preferably integral with each respective plate 5 and interrupting the inner longitudinal flange 6 thereof, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2, is a pair of roller-housings a suitably spaced longitudinally of the truck, each open at its lower end, as best seen in Figures 3 to 6, both inclusive, each having a generally annular main wall 8 and a flat top end wall 9, and each having a radially inwardly presented enlargement Ill.

The truck-plates 5 are suitably spaced one from the other transversely of the truck, and suitably fixed at its opposite ends to, and extending transversely between, the opposed forward housingenlargements ID, is a cross connecting-brace Likewise fixed at its opposite ends to, and extending between, the opposed rearward housing-enlargements I0, is a second cross connecting-brace 2. Thus the floor or base plates 5 are rigidly tied together in spaced parallel alignment, as best seen in Figure 1, and, all for purposes presently more fully appearing, it will be observed that each plate 5 is formed or provided at its forward end-portionand on its under face with suitably spaced ribs or flanges l3, l3, and at its forward margin, intermediate said ribs or flanges 3, 3', with a down-turned so-called hookflange l4.

Integrally formed at the respective outer rear comers of each of the plates 5, is an upstanding angle-bracket b, one wall 5 of which extends forwardly for connection, as at IS, with the outer base-flange 'l of the particular plate 5, and the other wall I! of which extends across the rear transverse margin of the particular plate 5 for integral connection with the adjacent rearward housing a, all as best seen in Figures 1 and 2.

Bolted or otherwise fixed at their lower end in the corners of, and upstanding from, the brackets 17, are suitable angle-bars l8, joined to which at their upper end, is a cross-strip |9,'the bars I 8 and strip l9 forming a frame adapted to take the place, as a so-called substitute, of a fixed wall of an enclosure in giving tying support to the seating-structure proper.

In practice, the seating-structure proper may comprise the desired number of seat-tiers or seat frames, which, in turn, may be of any suitable width, the truck A has a width corresponding to the width of the rear-tier or frame Z of the particular seating-structure, the plates 5 have a length substantially equal to the thickness, as it may be said, of the particular seating-structure proper when folded or closed, as shown in Figure 8, and the rear or main frame Z is uprlghtly dis- .posed on the truck floor-plates 5 in contiguous relation, and is suitably bolted or otherwise fixed, to the bars 18 and strip IQ of the wall-substitute frame, all as best seen in Figure 'l, the basebrackets 4 of the main seating frame Z being also preferably suitably fixed to and upon the truck floor-plates 5.

Now, pivoted at its one end upon a stud or the like 20 in each respective housing-enlargement III for swingable movement vertically in the associated housing a, is an arm 2| provided at its free end with a head in the form of a plate 22 formed upon its upper face with a cam-face 23 terminating in an upstanding abutment or stopproviding wall 24. Fixed to and upon the under faceof the head or plate 2, is any suitable bracket 25 suitably supporting a short-shaft 26, upon which latter a pair of rollers or castors 21 is suitably journalled for rotation, all as best seen in Figures 3 to 6, both inclusive.

As best seen in Figure 3, the top wall 9 of each roller-housing a and its associated enlargement |0,.is slotted or cut-away, as at 28, for permitting suitable swinging movement vertically of the particular roller-carrying pivoted arm 2|, and upstanding from each said wall 9, is a fixed arm 29 having a rigid lateral extension 30 overhanging said slot 28 for limiting the roller releasing movement of a particular cam-member 3| fixed at an end upon a shaft 32 suitably mounted for axial rotary oscillation in split-bearings or the like 33 provided for the purpose upon the respective top walls 9 of each respective pair of the roller-housings a. It should be observed that each cam-member 3| is engageable at its free end,

- upon proper actuation of its supporting-shaft 32,

with the cam-face 23 of a particular arm 2| for lowering or depressing its associated rollers 21 into ground or floor engagement, each shaft 32 being of a length to extend over a particular pair of the housings a for carrying two cam-members 3| for depressing or lowering and releasing the rollers 21 of such housings in unison, and each shaft 32 being squared or otherwise formed at its forwardly projecting end for removably receiving the socket of a suitable crank, not shown, by which the particular cam-shaft 32 may be operatively rotarily actuated for swinging the carried cam-members 3| downwardly into the associated housings a along the cam-track or faces 23 and into face-abutment against the stopshoulders or walls 24, or from the position shown in Figures 3 and 4 to the position shown in Figures 5 and 6, in moving to which latter position, the rollers 21 elevate or lift the truck A and the carried seating-structure proper from the floor or ground, and in which latter position the rollers 21 positively engage the ground or floor and the truck A and the carried seating-structure are supported by the several rollers 21 in raised condition off of the floor or ground, the truck A and its supported structure being then freely movable into or out of any particular enclosure or to and from any selected location within such particular enclosure.

It will, of course, be evident in this connection that the entire weight of the seating-structure proper is transmitted through the cam-members 3| to the rollers 21; hence the stop-shoulders 24 are so positioned as to allow the cam-members 3| to swing slightly past dead-center to such a position that the vertical stress will tend to swing the cam-members 3| further forwardly into impinging relation with the stop-shoulders 24. 'It will also be evident that, when the cam-members 3| are reversely swung through return actuation of the shafts 32, the truck A, by reason of its own weight, augmented by the weight of the carried seating-structure proper, lowers itself relatively,

to the rollers 21 and comes to rest immovably upon the floor, in which position the several rollers 21 will swing freely within the several housings a and rest loosely on the floor or ground.

Now, when the truck A and the supported folded seating-structure proper have been positioned at the selected location, track-members C, each transversely dimensioned to fit intermediate the ribs i3, i3, of a floor plate 5, are disposed at their rear end between said ribs and by means of a respective rearwardly presented angular lip 34 engaged with the particular plate-lip I4, substantially as shown in Figures 6 and 4, in the provision of an extension or continuation of the particular floor-plate 5, the plates or track-extensions C being detachably held or secured in such hookwise engagement with the truck-plates 5 when and as the truck A is, on cam-release of the rollers 21, permitted to slowly drop into floor engagement at the particular or selected location. The tread face of the plates C is then on the plane of the upper or tread face of the truckplates 5, as best seen in Figure 4, and the intervening thickness of the plate C at the forward end of the truck A is compensated for or equalized at the rear end of the truck A by suitable downwardly disposed extensions 35 provided on the truck corner-brackets b, also as best seen in Figure 4.

The combined length of each plate 5 and its continuation C is approximately equal to the longitudinal dimension of the seating-structure proper when fully opened or unfolded, and thus not only do the plate-continuations C facilitate smooth, even opening and closing, or folding and unfolding, movements of the seating-structure, but also function with the truck-plates 5 in evenly supporting the seating-structure when in opened or seating condition.

Mounted in the upper forward portion of the roller-carriage D' of the forward seat-carrying frame U, is a pair of spaced journal members 36' rotatably supporting a horizontally disposed shaft 36 provided adjacent its opposite ends with suitable radially presented rock-arms 31 and intermediately with a radially outwardly extending manipulating handle 38. Also mounted on the respective forward vertical side members of the roller-carriage D in registration vertically with the bearings 35', are respective pairs of superposed horizontal guide-plates 39 apertured for shiftably supporting vertically reciprocable pins 45 pivotally connected by means of respective links 4| with the arms 31, the lock-pins 40, at their lower end, being sized or dimensioned for co-operable engagement with either the truck-plates 5 or the track-continuations C at respective locking-slots 42, 43.

When the seating-structure is disposed in folded condition, as shown in Figure 8, the manipulating handle 33 of the locking shaft 36 may be swung downwardly for accordingly swinging the rock-arms 31 downwardly and thereby projecting the locking-pins 40 vertically downwardly in the guide-plates 39 for engagement in the lockingslots 42 of the base-plates 5, thus securing the seating-structure in folded condition wholly upon the truck A for convenient portable movement as a whole from place to place.

In use and assuming that the seating-structure is folded and disposed wholly on truck A, the hinged face or cover-board 3 is swung outwardly to permit access to the interior of the seating-structure. By means of a suitable crank, the cam-shafts 32 are suitably rotatively actuated, the rollers 21 lowered 'to the floor, and the entire seating-structure elevated for portable movement as a whole to any desired position of use in the particular gymnasium, auditorium, or the like. By reverse rotation of the cam-shafts 32, the several rollers 21 are now freed and the seating-structure is again lowered to the floor, where it will be held against further movement by its own weight. The removable extension trackplates C are suitably disposed with relation to, and by their hooks 34 engaged with the lips I4 of, the track-plates 5, the locking shaft 36 is thereupon reversely rotated for lifting the locking pins 40 out of retentive engagement with the locking-slots 42, and the seating-structure unfolded into fully open position, the several roller carriages D, D, of the seat-frames rolling freely outwardly over the tread-faces of the floor plates 5 and their continuations C to the position shown in Figure '7. At this position, the locking shaft 36 is again rotated for shifting the locking pins 40 downwardly into retentive engagement with the locking-slots 43 of the track-plates C for securing the seating-structure in unfolded or open condition.

When it is desired to change or shift the position or location of the seating-structure, the locking pins 40 are again shifted upwardly out of retentive engagement with the slots 43, the seating-structure folded, the entire structure elevated upon the rollers 21, and the extension trackplates C removed and preferably accessibly housed within the seating-structure, when the truck A and its carried or supported seating-structure may be conveniently rolled or wheeled to a new position or shifted into some suitable storage space until again required for subsequent use.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the structure may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A foldable seating-structure including a main seat-providing frame and a plurality of second seat-providing frames, the latter having connection with the main frame and being relatively sized and connected one with the other for folding in nested relation one within the other and within the main frame, in combination with means comprising a truck permanently fixed to the main frame for supporting the structure for rollable movement as a whole when said frames are in nested relation.

2. A foldable seating-structure including a main seat-providing frame and a plurality of second seat-providing frames, the latter having connection with the main frame and being relatively sized and connected one with the other for folding in nested relation one within the other and within the main frame, in combination with a base fixed to the main frame and sized to accommodate the structure as a whole when said frames are in nested relation, and rollers on said base shiftable for operative floor engagement for supporting the base and seating-structure for rollable movement.

3. A foldable seating-structure comprising a main seat-providing frame and a plurality of second seat-providing frames, the latter having connection with the main frame and being relatively sized and connected one with the other for folding in nested relation one within the other and within the main frame, in combination with a base fixed to the main frame and sized to accommodate the seating-structure as a whole when said frames are in nested relation, a plurality of rollers swingably shiftable on the base for movement into and out of floor engagement, and means for shifting the rollers into operative floor engagement for supporting the base and seating-structure for rollable movement.

4. A foldable seating-structure comprising a main seat-providing frame and a plurality of second seat-providing frames, the latter having connection with the main frame and being relatively sized and connected one with the other for folding in nested relation one within the other and within the main frame, in combination with a truck-base fixed to the main frame and sized to accommodate the seating-structure as a. whole when said frames are in nested relation, a plurality of rollers swingably shiftable on the base for movement into and out of floor engagement, and cam-means for shifting the rollers into operative floor engagement for elevating the base and seating-structure for rollable movement, the base being constructed for floor engagement in a selected location upon release of said cam-means.

5. In combination, a foldable seating-structure comprising a main seat-providing frame and a plurality of second seat-providing frames, the latter having connection with the main frame and being relatively sized and connected one with the other for traveling movement for nesting in folded relation one within the other and within the main frame, a truck-base including spaced floor-plates fixed to the main frame and sized to accommodate the seating-structure as a whole when said frames are in nested relation, a plurality of rollers shiftable on the base for movement into and out of floor engagement, means for shifting said rollers into operative floor engagement for elevating the base and seatingstructure for rollable movement, the-base being constructed for floor engagement in a selected location upon release of said means, and extensions adapted for detachable connection with said base-plates for facilitating the folding and unfolding of said second frames in said selected location.

6. In combination, a foldable seating-structure comprising a main seat-providing frame and a plurality of second seat-providing frames, the latter having connection with the main frame and being relatively sized and connected one with the other for traveling movement for nesting in folded relation one within the other and within the main frame, a truck-base including spaced floor-plates fixed to the main frame and sized to accommodate the seating-structure as a whole when said frames are in nested relation, a plurality of rollers shiftable on the base for movement into and out of floor engagement, means for shifting said rollers into operative floor engagement for elevating the base and seatingstructure for rollable movement, the base being constructed for floor engagement in a selected location upon reelase of said means, extensions adapted for detachable connection with said baseplates for facilitating the folding and unfolding of said second frames in said selected location, and means for releasably securing said second frames in folded and unfolded relation.

7. In combination, a foldable seating-structure comprising a main seat-providing frame and a plurality of second seat-providing frames, the latter having connection with the main frame and being relatively sized and connected one with the other for traveling movement for nesting in folded relation one within the other and within the main frame, a truck-base including spaced floorplates fixed to the main frame and sized to accommodate the seating-structure as a whole when said frames are in nested relation, a plurality of rollers shiftable on the base for movement into and out of floor engagement, means for shifting said rollers into operative floor engagement for elevating the base and seating-structure for rollable movement, the base being constructed for floor engagement in a selected location upon release of said means, extensions adapted for detachable connection with said base-plates. for facilitating the folding and unfolding of said second frames in said selected location, said floorplates and said extensions having respective boltapertures, and locking-members shiftable on the seating-structure for engagement with said respective apertures for releasably securing said second frames in folded and unfolded relation.

8. A foldable seating structure of bleacher type comprising, in combination, a main frame and a plurality of second frames relatively sized and connected for folding and unfolding and when folded being in nested relation, seat-members on the second frames disposed in spaced stepped relation one in advance of the other forwardly of the main frame when the frames are unfolded,

and means including a roller-equipped basemember underlying and having connection with the main frame for rollably transporting the structure as a whole when the frames are folded.

9. A foldable seating structure of bleacher type comprising, in combination, a plurality of rigid frames relatively sized and connected for folding and unfolding and when folded being in nested relation, seat-members on the frames disposed in spaced stepped relation one in advance of the other when the frames are unfolded, and truck means fixed to the structure for rollably transporting the structure as a whole when the frames are folded, said means including a base for one of said frames when the frames are unfolded.

10. A foldable seating structure of bleacher type comprising, in combination, a rigid main frame, a plurality of rigid second frames, said frames being relatively sized and connected for folding and unfolding and when folded being in nested relation, seat-members on the frames disposed in spaced stepped relation when the frames are unfolded, and means comprising a rollerequipped truck fixed .to the main frame for rollably transporting the structure as a whole when the frames are folded, said truck including a base for the main frame when the frames are unfolded.

'11. A foldable seating structure of bleacher type comprising, in combination, a main frame and a plurality of second frames relatively sized and connected for folding and unfolding and when folded being in nested relation, seat-members on the second frames disposed in spaced stepped relation forwardly of the main frame when the frames are unfolded, a base fixed to the main frame and sized to accommodate the structure as a whole when the frames are folded, and shiftable rollers on the base for supporting the base and structure for traveling movement as a whole when the frames are nested.

12. A foldable seating structure comprising, in combination, a rigid main frame, a plurality of rigid second frames, the latter having foldable connection with the main frame and foldable connection one with the other for movement away from the main frame to open position and towards the main frame to closed position, means including a roller-equipped base-member underlying and having connection with the main frame for supporting the structure as a whole for transportation when the frames are folded, and trackmembers for co-operation with said means and the second frames during movement toward and from the main frame.

13. A foldable seating structure comprising, in combination, a rigid main frame, a plurality of rigid second frames, the latter having foldable connection with the main frame and foldable connection one with the other for movement away from and forwardly of the main frame to open position and towards the main frame to closed position, said frames when folded being in nested relation, a base for the main frame when the frames are unfolded and sized to accommodate all of said frames when in nested folded relation, and means for elevating and rollably supporting the base and frames when the latter are folded.

14. A foldable seating structure comprising, in combination, a rigid main frame, a plurality of rigid second' frames, the latter having foldable connection with the main frame and foldable connection one with the other for movement away from the main frame to open position and towards the main frame to closed position, a base for the main frame when the frames are unfolded and sized to accommodate all of said frames when folded, means for elevating and rollably supporting the base and frames when the latter are folded, and track-members for connection with the base for the second frames during movement toward and from the main frame.

15. In a movable seating-structure of bleacher type, the combination with a frame including upstanding panels, of a truck for supporting the structure for movement, the truck comprising a base disposed under, and having connection with, the panels for normal floor-engagement, a plurality of roller-housings on said base, arms pivoted at an end 'in the respective housings for swingable movement, rollers journaled upon the free end-portions of said arms, and means for depressing said arm-portions for actuating the rollers for elevating the base for rollable movement of the truck and supported structure.

16. In a movable seating-structure of bleacher type, the combination with a frame including upstanding panels, of a truck for supporting the structure for movement, the truck comprising a base disposed under, and having connection with,

the panels for normal floor-engagement, a plurality of roller-housings on said base, arms pivoted at an end in the respective housings for swingable movement, rollers journaled upon the free end-portions of said arms, and cam means for depressing said arm-portions for actuating the rollers for elevating the base for rollable movement of the truck and supported structure.

FRANK ALBACH. GEORGE R. CHERVENKA. 

